Aldi to ensure all its own-label products are recyclable by 2022

Supermarket Aldi has announced that it intends to make all its own-label products recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022.

It is also scrapping 5p carrier bags as part of a range of measures in support of WRAP’s new initiative to change the UK plastics system and fight plastic waste.

Advertisement

Aldi will instead offer consumers bags for life, as well as reusable 9p bags made from back-of-store plastic waste.

It has also pledged its support for a national deposit return scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and is currently analysing the possibility of how it could be implemented.

The retailers will report on its packaging initiatives on a yearly basis, and to help reach its targets it has employed internal and independent experts to help drive innovation.

Aldi UK & IRE chief executive Matthew Barnes said: “Our customers trust us not only to offer them high-quality products at unbeatable prices, but to help them lead healthier, better lives. That includes reducing waste, particularly around unnecessary packaging and plastics that damage the environment we live in.

“While we cannot do this alone – and call on others to collaborate with us and others to drive change industry-wide – we are committed to doing all we can to lead the way and to bring our customers on this journey with us.”

WRAP chief executive Marcus Gover said: “We welcome Aldi taking positive action to reduce plastic waste. Through WRAP’s new ambitious, cross-sector initiative, which will be unveiled soon, we will work together with governments, citizens and business to transform the way we make, use and dispose of plastic so that we retain its value, particularly in reducing food waste, but prevent it from polluting the environment.

“We are delighted that Aldi intend to be a founding member in our ground-breaking work.”

Aldi has already removed all plastic stems from its cotton buds and banned all microbeads and microplastics from products.